Wringer



March 28; 1933. I J L PERKlNs 1,903,194

WRINGER Filed April 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

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March 28, 1933. .1. PERKINS WRI NGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1931 M@QM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JULIAN L. PERKINS, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS WBINGER Application filed April 6,

This invention. relates, to improvements in wringer apparatus and is directed more particularly to wringers of the safety type.

The principal objects of this invention are directed to the provision of a safety Wringer apparatus which incorporates novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the operator may easily and readily disconnect the operating parts to safeguard against injury and damage.

Numerous novel features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to in connection with the following description of the preferred form of the invention, which for purposes of disclosure is shown in the accompanying drawings, Where- 1n:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a wringer apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the wringer apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View at the left-hand end of the wringer apparatus showing the parts in a neutral position, and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts in an operative position.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention will be more fully described, but it will be obvious that changes may be made to adapt the same to various conditions.

The wringer apparatus in its broad aspect is adapted for use in connection with washing machines and similar apparatus. In the form of the invention to be described it is associated with a head or driving unit indicated generally by H. In the drawings the head H includes a housing 2 having a tubular support member 4 extending therefrom which may be attached to and supported by an apparatus such as a washing machine or the like. A driveshaft 6 is journalled in a suitable bearing 8 and carries a driving pinion 10 on its upper end. A barrel 12 is 0 rotatable and reciprocable in the housing and 1931. Serial No. 528,094.

be rotated in one direction or the other. As 60 the parts are shown in Fig. 2, the driving a shaft 14 is shown in a neutral position wherein neither of the driven gears are in mesh with the driving pinion.

The barrel 12 has an upwardly extending pin 22 which extends into a slot 24 in the upper side of the housing 2. This slot 24 is arranged so that when the bushing is rotated in reference to the housing in one direction or the other it will be simultaneously moved longitudinally thereof and moves the shaft 14 therewith so as to engage either one of the gears 16 or 18 with the driving pinion. The parts are shown in Fig. 2, as being in an inoperative neutral position.

A guide 30 extends upwardly from the outer end of barrel 12 and is preferably tubular to receive in sliding relation a carrier 32 which is also tubular and slidably receives a box 34. A drive roll 36 is carried by the shaft 14 and at the outer end of the shaft 14 there is provided a guide 40 which has a bearing portion 42 on the shaft. As will be seen the shaft 14 may rotate relative to the barrel 12 and the bearing 42 so as to rotate the drive roll 36.

A carrier 44 similar to the carrier 32 is slidable relative to the guide 40 and has a box 46 slidable therein corresponding to the box 34 of carrier 32. A shaft 50 has its 0 posite ends in a slot 52 in the inner walls 0 the boxes-34 and 46.

Slots 31 and 33 are provided in the inner sides of the guides and carriers to permit the shaft 50 to move towards and away from the drive shaft and to permit relative movements of the boxes, carriers, guides and shaft 50.

A driven roll 51 is carried by the shaft 50 and is preferably rotatable thereon, the shaft bein held against rotation because the ends 'of s aft are non-round as indicated at 53.

Of course the shaft 50 may be arranged to rotate in the boxes.

Adjusting screws 56 are in screw-threaded engagement with the upper ends of the carriers 32 and 44 and bear on the s rin s 58 within the boxes. The lower en s o the springs abut the lower walls of the boxes such as 60. The springs function to urge the boxes downwardly relative to the carriers and when the carriers are in the lower position shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the upper roll 51 is yieldingly urged into contact with the lower drive roll 36.

In the operation of the apparatus when the lower shaft 14 and rolls 36 are to be rotated in one direction or the other, the wringer is tilted in one direction or the other from the neutral inoperative position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5. For instance, it may be tilted to the osition shown in Fig. 6. As it is tilted the barrel 12 is oscillated in the housing so as to carry the pin 22 along the slot 24 and simultaneously move the barrel, shaft 14 andwringer longitudinally to engage one of the driving gears with the pinion. In a tilted position and with one of'the driven gears in mesh with the driving pinion the lower roll shaft 14 and lower driving roll 36 are driven from the shaft 6 whereby the upper roll may be driven by the lower one when the carriers are in a lower position.

The carriers are releasably held in a lower operative position so as to yieldingly urge the boxes downwardly and yieldingly hold the upper roll against the lower one and the mechanism for this function will now be described.

Levers are rotatable on the barrel 12 and on the bearing 42 at op osite ends of the roll 36. These have slots 72 diverging from a lower slot 73 to provide a'cam portion 74. Pins 76 carried by the lower ends of the carriers 32 and 44 work in the slots of the levers 70 and as the levers are swung relative to the carriers and from the full line ositions shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to the dotash line position, the ins are allowed to travel upwardly of a s 0t 72.

As the pins may travel upwardly of the slots 72 of the levers 70, the carriers and boxes therein are free to move upwardly relative to the guides. In this Way should an operator have a hand caught between the rolls, the upper roll may be moved upwardly by the hand since the carriers are not held against upward movement.

At all times the boxes and upper roll- 51 are spring-pressed downwardly relative to thecarriers. -The carriers are free to move upwardly except when releasably held in up erative position by the levers 7 O. The springs do not act on the upper roll when the carriers are released so as to press against the lower roll. The springs function only when the carriers are held in a lower operative position as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6.

Rods or bars 80 are connected between arms 82 of the levers 70 and are arranged to lie at opposite sides of the rolls. The bars are readily and easily accessible to the operator regardless of which side of the apparatus the operator is ositioned for the operation of the wringer. guite involuntarily and unconsciously the operator, in an emergency, may grasp one of the rods or contact some part of the body therewith to cause either an upward or downward movement thereof to bring the safety feature into operation.

A bar or bars 90 may connect the upper ends of the guides 30 and 40 whereby the wringer may be tilted between neutral and operative positions.

The wringer may be moved between a substantially vertical neutral position and angularly disposed tilting positions which will depend more or less upon the operator who may stand at either side of the wringer. In any event at least one of the rods 80 will be disposed between the operator and the wringer so as to be in the path of the arms of the operator or at least will be readily accessible for manual operation.

A detent 100 in the form of a ball is spring pressed upwardly by means of a spring 102 for engagement with an opening 104 in the lower side of the barrel 12. The parts are so arranged that the ball and opening will be engaged when the wringer is in a neutral inoperative position so as to yieldingly hold the wripger in such a position.

Not only may the operator actuate the levers 7 O for the safety function and thereby avoid injury, but in case the wringer is in a tilted operative position the operator may swing the structure from such tilted position to the neutral position, wherein the driven gears are moved from engagement with the driving pinion. In this position the lower roll 36 will not be driven and the danger of the rolls drawing the operators clothing or hand therethrough is eliminated.

'Itwill be noted that the wringer structure is supported entirely by the driving shaft and that it is movable between operative and inoperative positions. The novel construction eliminates the necessity for a wringer frame usually employed. Therefore the wringer of this invention is simple in form so as to be economical to manufacture and efficient in its operation. By reason of the novel construction an operator may quite unconsciously bring the safety feature into play to safeguard against injury and damage.

Various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore it IS preferred to be limited if at all by the apa spaced relation, connections between said.

gu des to hold them against relative movements, carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatably associated with said guides having cam surfaces, parts on said carriers adapted to be releasably engaged by said cam surfaces whereby the said guides and carriers are held against movement in one direction and means associated with said carriers tending to urge them in another direction.

2. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guides associated with said free end of the shaft disposed in a spaced relation, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements. carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatably associated with said guides having cam surfaces. parts on said carriers adapted to be releasably engaged by said cam surfaces whereby the said guides and carriers are held against movement in one direction, and a manually engageable member extending between and connecting said levers.

3. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guide members associated with said free end of the shaft, connections between said guides to ho d them against relative movements, carrier members movable in the guide members, coacting rolls associated with said free end of the shaft and carrier members, levers and parts adapted to be releasably engaged thereby associated with said guide and carrier members wherebv said members are releasably held against movement in one direction to releasably hold said rolls in operative engagement.

4. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guide members associated with said free end of the shaft, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements, carrier members movable in the guide members, coacting rolls associated with said free end of the shaft and carrier n1embers, levers and parts adapted to be releasably engaged thereby associated with said guide and carrier members whereby said members are releasably held against movement in one direction to releasably hold said rolls in operative engagement and means tending to move said members apart when released by said levers. and parts.

5. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guide members associated with said free end of the shaft, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements, carrier members movable in the guide members, coacting rolls associated with said free end of the shaft and carrier members, levers and parts adapted to be releasably engaged thereby associated with said guide and carrier members whereby said members are releasably held against movement in one direction to releasably hold said rolls in operative engagement and a manually engageable member extending between said levers.

6. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support and a driving roll shaft having a free end extending therefrom, a driving element associated with said support, a driven element for said roll shaft movable into and out of engagement with said driving element, an actuating member oscillatable relative to said support, spaced guides associated with said actuating member and free endof the driving roll shaft. connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements. carriers movable in said guides, driving and driven coactingrolls associated with said carriers and driving shaft and holding means associated with said carrlers and boxes to releasably hold the same in operative position.

7. A wringer construction comprising in comblnation, a support and a driving roll shaft having a free end extending therefrom, a drlvmg element associated with said support, a driven element for said roll shaft movable into and out of engagement with said driving element. an actuating member oscillatablerelative to said support, spaced guides associated with said actuating member and free end of the driving roll shaft. eon- IIGCt IODS between said guides to hold them agalnst relative movements, carriers movable in sand guides, driving and driven coactim rolls associated with said carriers and dri ing shaft and holding means associated with sald carriers and guides to releasably hold the same in operative position and means tending to separate said guides and carriers when released by said holding means.

8. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support having a drive roll shaft with a free end extending therefrom, a guide movable in said support on said shaft and a second guide adjacent the extremity of the free end of the shaft, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements/carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatable relative to said guides on the axis of said shaft, rolls associated with said shaft and carriers, the said levers being provided with cam slots for receiving parts'provided on said carriers arranged to releasably hold the carriers and guides in operative position.

9. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support having a drive roll shaft with a free end extending therefrom, a guide movable in said support onsaid shaft and a second guide adjacent the extremity of the free end of the shaft, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements, carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatable relative to said guides on the axis of said shaft, rolls associated with said shaft and carriers, the said levers being provided with cam slots for receiving parts provided on said carriers arranged to releasably hold the carriers and guides in operative position and means to urge the carriers and guides apart when released.

10. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support having a drive roll shaft with a free end extending therefrom, a guide movable in said support on said shaft and a second guide adjacent the extremity of the free end of the shaft, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements, carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatable relative to said guides on the axis of said shaft, rolls associated with said shaft and carriers, the said levers being provided with cam slots for receivin parts provided on said carriers arrange to releasably hold the carriers and guides in operative position and amanually engageable part extending between said levers.

11. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support having a drive roll shaft rotatable therein with a free end extending therefrom, guides in spaced relation on said free end of the shaft provided with slots on inner sides thereof, carriers slidable in said guides provided with slots on the inner sides thereof, a drive roll on said shaft between the guides, boxes slidable in said carriers receiving the opposite ends of a shaft carrying a driven roll the end portions of said shaft extending through said slots,

- levers oscillatable on said guides, engageable parts associated with said levers and carriers whe'rebv the guides and carriers are held in releasable operative position.

12. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support having adrive roll shaft rotatable therein with a free end extending therefrom, guides in spaced relation on said free end of the shaft provided with slots on inner sides thereof, carriers slidable in said guides provided with slots on the inner sides thereof, a drive roll on said shaft between the guides, boxes slidable in said carriers receiving the opposite ends of a shaft carrying a driven roll the end po'rtions of said shaft extending throu h said slots, levers oscillatable on said gui es, engageable parts associated with said levers and carriers whereby the guides and carriers are held in releasable operative position and means associated with said guides, carriers and boxes tending to urge t e carriers and guides apart.

13. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, spaced guides associated with the free end of said shaft, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements, carriers slidable in said guides, coacting rolls associated with said free end of the shaft and carriers, oscillatable levers and parts adapted to be releasably engaged thereby associated with said guides and carriers to releasably hold said rolls in operative engagement, the said guides being arranged for swinging movements on an axis parallel to that of said shaft between an operative position where the axes of said rolls are disposed in a certain plane and an inoperative position where the said axes are disposed in a plane at an angle to said certain plane and engageable driving connections arranged to be disengaged and engaged by swinging movements of the guides.

14. A wringer structure comprising in combination, a support having a drive roll shaft rotatable therein with a free end extending therefrom, guides in spaced relation on said free end of the shaft provided with slots on inner sides thereof, carriers slidable in said guides provided with slots on the inner sides thereof, a drive roll on said shaft between the guides, boxes slidable in said carriers receiving the opposite ends of a shaft carrying a driven roll the end portions of said shaft extending through said slots, levers oscillatable on said guides, engageable parts associated with said levers and carriers whereby the guides and carriers are held in releasable operative position and means associated with said guides, carriers and boxes tending to urge the carriers and guides apart and means associated with the guides to effect swinging movements thereof.

15. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a driving roll shaft having a free end extending from said support, a driving element associated therewith, a driven element movable into and out of engagement with said driving element, an actuating member for said driven element oscillatable in said support, spaced guides associated with the free end of said shaft one of which is connected to said actuating member, rigid connections between said guides, a driven roll on said drive shaft between said guides, carrier members slidable in said guides, boxes slidable in said carrier members, a shaft having its opposite ends in said boxes carrying a roll between its ends, and means associated with said carriers and boxes for releasably holding said boxes in operative position.

16. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a driving roll shaft having a free end extending from said su port, a driving element associated therewit a driven element movable into and out of engagement with said driving element, 'an actuating member for said'driven element oscillatable in said support, s aced guides associated with'the free end 0 said shaft, one of which is connected to said actuating member, rigid connections between said guides, a drive roll on said drive shaft between said guides, carrier members slidable in said guides, boxes slidable in said carrier members, a shaft having its opposite ends in said boxes carrying a roll between its ends, means associated with said carriers and boxes for releasably holding said boxes in operative position and a manually operable member associated with said means extending longitudinally of said rolls.

17 A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a driving roll shaft having a free end extending from said support, a driving element associated therewith, a driven element movable into and out of engagement with said driving element, an actuating member for said driven element oscillatable in said support, spaced guides associated with the free end of said shaft one of which is connected to said actuating member, rigid connections between said guides, a drive roll onsaid drive shaft between said guides, carrier members slidable in said guides, boxes slidable in said carrier members, a shaft having its opposite ends in said boxes carrying a roll between its ends, springs. associated with said carriers urging said boxes towards said driving roll shaft and an operative position, and means associated with said carriers and boxes for releasably holding said boxes in operative position.

18. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a driving rollshaft having a free end extending from said support, a driving element associated therewith,

a' driven element movable into and out of engagement with said driving element, an actuating member for said driven element oscillatable in said support, spaced guides associated with the free end of said shaft one of which is connected to said actuating member, rigid connections between said guides, a drive roll on said drive shaft. between said guides, carrier members slidable in said guides, boxesslidable in said carrier members, a shaft having its opposite ends in said boxes carrying a roll between its ends, springs associated with said carriers urging said boxes towards said driving roll shaft and an operative position, means associated with said carriers and boxes for releasably holding said boxes in operative position and a manually operable memberassociated with said means extending longitudinally of said rolls.

19. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guides in spaced relation associated therewith, connections .between said guides to hold them against rela tive movements, a drive roll on said shaft between said carriers, carriers slidable in said guides, boxes slidable in said carriers having lower Walls, a shaft carrying a roll and having opposite ends in said boxes, caps in the upper ends of said carriers, springs disposed between said caps and the lower walls of said boxes and cam mechanism associated with said carriers and guides to releasably hold said carriers in operative position.

20. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guides associated with said free end of the shaft arranged in a spaced relation, connections between said guides to hold them against relative move ment, carrier members slidable in said guides, box members slidable in said carriers, springs disposed between upperand lower ends of the carriers and boxes to urge said boxes towards said shaft, a second shaft having its ends in said'boxes, oscillatable levers associated with said carrier and guide members having cam surfaces for releasably engaging a part on said carrier member to hold the same against movement in one direct on.

21. A wringer construction comprising in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guides associated with said free end of the shaft disposed 1n a spaced relation, connections between said guides to -hold them against relative movements, carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatably associated with said guides having cam surfaces, parts on said carriers adapted to be releasably engaged by said cam surfaces whereby the said guides and carriers are held against movement in one direction.

22. A wringer construction comprislng in combination, a support, a shaft having a free end extending therefrom, guides associated with said free end of the shaft disposed in a spaced relation, connections between said guides to hold them against relative movements, carriers slidable in said guides, levers oscillatably associated with said guides having cam surfaces, parts on said carriers adapted to be releasably engaged by said cam 'surfaces whereby the said guides and carriers are heldagainst movement in one direction and a longitudinally extending member connecting said guides,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JULIAN L. PERKINS. 

